Metro Mayors express support to ‘bike lanes’ proposal
By JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA, The Manila Times Reporter
Majority of Metro Manila mayors on Thursday expressed support to the proposal to put up bicycle lanes as a way to conserve energy in the face of looming oil crisis.
Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority presented before the members of the Metro Mayors Council the initial proposal for the "Metro Walk and Pedal Lanes," which will be placed along secondary roads of Metro Manila.
Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati said he will not object to the plan but stressed the need to review it to ensure safety of the bikers and pedestrians.
"There have been bike lane proposals even during the time of former mayor [Ismael] Mathay of Quezon City, but [they] did not push through. I hope that this time, they have new methods on how the project will be done," Binay said in an interview.
Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City said he is open to the idea of bike lanes, adding that he will endorse it to the city council.
"Personally I’m in favor of it (bike lanes). I will also recommend it to the council, provided safety and security, which are paramount, are in place," Bautista, who is also the president of the Vice Mayors’ League, said.
However, Bautista said he was not sure whether the proposal would be funded by the national government or the local governments, adding that this was not taken up during the meeting.
Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela also favored the program, saying that he will encourage his constituents to use bike or walk to their destination.
Gatchalian disclosed that they are clearing their sidewalks as preparation for the project.
"We look at the project not only as an effective way to save gas, but it will also be good to [our] health and the environment," he explained.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tobias Tianco of Navotas said he welcomes the creation of bike lanes but pointed out that Navotas does not have wide roads to accommodate such lanes.
The MMDA is set to come up with a proposed resolution on the project. The resolution would have to be signed by the members of the council composed of the 17 city and municipal mayors and chair of the vice mayors’ and councilors’ leagues.
"Identification of roads for bicycles is already being done, we have to make sure that this roads will provide its users easy access to the major thoroughfares," Fernando said.
Fernando explained that the MMDA needs to interconnect at least 200 kilometers of secondary roads and equip at least 500 intersections with directional signs and safety apparatus to ensure that bike users have access to other areas in Metro Manila.
Pinag-isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide, meanwhile, lambasted Fernando’s proposal to put up bike lanes, saying that this was another "publicity stunt" of the government.
"This is just a diversion from the real issue which it the continuous and unjust increase of oil prices which the Arroyo administration failed to control," George San Mateo, Piston spokesman, said.
He said the government is forcing the people to suffer for its failure.
"We all know that the bike lanes are for the people who are being forced by the government to shoulder the energy conservation because it is impossible for the government officials especially President Arroyo to . . . use these lanes," he said.
Majority of Metro Manila mayors on Thursday expressed support to the proposal to put up bicycle lanes as a way to conserve energy in the face of looming oil crisis.
Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority presented before the members of the Metro Mayors Council the initial proposal for the "Metro Walk and Pedal Lanes," which will be placed along secondary roads of Metro Manila.
Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati said he will not object to the plan but stressed the need to review it to ensure safety of the bikers and pedestrians.
"There have been bike lane proposals even during the time of former mayor [Ismael] Mathay of Quezon City, but [they] did not push through. I hope that this time, they have new methods on how the project will be done," Binay said in an interview.
Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City said he is open to the idea of bike lanes, adding that he will endorse it to the city council.
"Personally I’m in favor of it (bike lanes). I will also recommend it to the council, provided safety and security, which are paramount, are in place," Bautista, who is also the president of the Vice Mayors’ League, said.
However, Bautista said he was not sure whether the proposal would be funded by the national government or the local governments, adding that this was not taken up during the meeting.
Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela also favored the program, saying that he will encourage his constituents to use bike or walk to their destination.
Gatchalian disclosed that they are clearing their sidewalks as preparation for the project.
"We look at the project not only as an effective way to save gas, but it will also be good to [our] health and the environment," he explained.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tobias Tianco of Navotas said he welcomes the creation of bike lanes but pointed out that Navotas does not have wide roads to accommodate such lanes.
The MMDA is set to come up with a proposed resolution on the project. The resolution would have to be signed by the members of the council composed of the 17 city and municipal mayors and chair of the vice mayors’ and councilors’ leagues.
"Identification of roads for bicycles is already being done, we have to make sure that this roads will provide its users easy access to the major thoroughfares," Fernando said.
Fernando explained that the MMDA needs to interconnect at least 200 kilometers of secondary roads and equip at least 500 intersections with directional signs and safety apparatus to ensure that bike users have access to other areas in Metro Manila.
Pinag-isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide, meanwhile, lambasted Fernando’s proposal to put up bike lanes, saying that this was another "publicity stunt" of the government.
"This is just a diversion from the real issue which it the continuous and unjust increase of oil prices which the Arroyo administration failed to control," George San Mateo, Piston spokesman, said.
He said the government is forcing the people to suffer for its failure.
"We all know that the bike lanes are for the people who are being forced by the government to shoulder the energy conservation because it is impossible for the government officials especially President Arroyo to . . . use these lanes," he said.
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